We've used a 243 to kill piles of coues, close range out to 500+. Seems about perfect to me. Wouldn't mind trying out a quick twist 6-06 or 240 though.
You already have two perfect coues rifles, but if you want another the 264 WM will give three perfect coues rifles. I own all three and would likely choose the 257 for coues.
I'd go with the 264 and also pickup a 240 as a backup. The 257 should be reserved solely for pronghorn.
Also pick up a 257 Roberts and a 6.5 CM if you shoot on the front half of 1000, oh and rebuild that 7mm Rem Mag and then see how it compares to a new 270 win. There now you 6 new guns.
Make it a specially made 257 that shoots the 115 Berger at screaming velocities. A 27- 28" barrel with a McMillan and some great glass. Prepare to shoot many animals without using the stadia or turret adjustments. As you know recoil is very tolerable
My 257's trajectory at 4000 ft where we usually hunt coues wt.
I'm really favoring a 264 wm, but I already own a 257 weatherby. A 240 weatherby mag is calling to me.
I have a super accurate 7 rem mag, that seems to have become my favorite child. Just swapped out scopes to a ss 10x mil quad.
I'm itching for a new rifle, and want one just as a lr dedicated coues gun.
What would you choose as one ?
I would seriously consider working up some loads for your 7mm Rem. Mag., with Nosler's 150 gr. Accubond LR bullet. With a BC of .611 at 3200 fps, this is a great long-range choice, with excellent wind-bucking capability. If it is accurate in your rifle, it would be hard to beat as a rifle/bullet combo for long range, smaller critters.
I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave....
Don't forget, you often will be hiking in at least 1 mile, if not more if you want to get away from the road hunters. 1 mile might not sound like a lot but in coues country it can be a real bitch. Lot of up and down small hills covered in thick brush with thorns everywhere. For me that means a lighter rifle. I have also found a longer barreled rifle to be a pain on a coues hunt. You are constantly going around, over, through thick, sticky, thorny, painful nasty terrain and the longer barrels can really get caught up on things.
Make sure you can shoot your rifle comfortably at long range in field positions. 400 yards may be a close shot, 600 yards may be all you get.
"Never miss the opportunity to shut the f$%K up." Colonel Hopewell.
Make it a specially made 257 that shoots the 115 Berger at screaming velocities. A 27- 28" barrel with a McMillan and some great glass. Prepare to shoot many animals without using the stadia or turret adjustments. As you know recoil is very tolerable
My 257's trajectory at 4000 ft where we usually hunt coues wt.
Can you hike in the dark up rocky thorny hills, glass effectively and stubbornly, have the stamina to possibly wait on your rifle for hours at a time in an uncomfortable position in the sun and then shoot effectively up to 700 yards from field positions in less than ideal conditions?
I would recommend you think of these things other than your rifle cartridge for killing a coues deer....
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
I would look into what Bighorn said.. Somewhere I have an article on a serious coues deer hunter in Az. He used a .300 Wea. of course a custom.. The .243 never impressed me as a long range anything, except maybe gongs.. Plus shot several antelope with the .257 Wea. at about 400 yards.. They made some long runs.. If it would have been in brush, finding the animal would have been tough..
I would look into what Bighorn said.. Somewhere I have an article on a serious coues deer hunter in Az. He used a .300 Wea. of course a custom.. The .243 never impressed me as a long range anything, except maybe gongs.. Plus shot several antelope with the .257 Wea. at about 400 yards.. They made some long runs.. If it would have been in brush, finding the animal would have been tough..
Geez....
Screw you! I'm voting for Trump again!
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the 24HCF.
